Build Your Own 8-Bit Gaming System With MAKERbuino

According to 18-year-old Croatian student Albert Gajšak, the average kid plays 6.3 hours of video games per week. But what if some portion of this time could be spent instead learning about STEM instead? That’s the idea behind MAKERbuino — an open source, ATmega328-based 8-bit gaming system that is currently available on Kickstarter.

The DIY kit, also available as a more expensive fully-assembled version, is about the price of a normal video game, and can act as a fun and educational alternative.

Once built, you can play games that come bundled with it on an SD card, or download others from its online gallery. What’s more, you can chain more than two MAKERbuinos together using link cables.

Additionally, the device can be hacked and expanded with extra hardware, and new games can be programmed using the Arduino’s IDE. MAKERbuino is completely customizable — change the button caps, 3D print your own case, or make your console light up with a few blinking LEDs.